Litigation Nightmare Over Seized Equines

In Defense of Animals, the international animal protection organization operating Hope Animal Sanctuary in Carroll County and the Justice for Animals Campaign based in Montgomery County, will attend court at 9:00 a.m. in support of MS Horses, our partner in equine rescue and Madison County Sheriff Randy Tucker in a struggle with Rocking R Ranch and Rescue for the custody of neglected equines.

Who: Doll Stanley, Sheriff Randy Tucker, other key witnesses

What: Custody Hearing for Equines

Where: Madison Co Justice Court, 2961 S Liberty St., Canton, MS

When: Thursday June 26, 9 a.m.

A fourth attempt in litigating over the custody of three horses and a pony seized as evidence by the Madison County Sheriff’s Department in an animal cruelty investigation is expected to fail. The equines were seized on October 24, 2025, for probable cause of neglect.

The Madison County Sheriff’s Department responded to complaints that the equines were malnourished.

In three previous attempts to regain custody of the equines, courts have ruled in favor of Sheriff Tucker’s decision to appoint MS Horses as agent of the department for the care and welfare of the animals. The exhausting and financially absurd litigation over the animals is taking a toll on all involved.

Rocking R Ranch and Rescue alleges that the seizure of the four equines was tantamount to theft because they held a contract that is now invalid. After all, there was a purchase of the animals, and they showed no interest in them since their transfer of custody.    

An audible gasp arose in one proceeding when Rocking R Ranch and Rescue founder Joy Reynolds responded to presiding Justice Court Judge Lloyd Gilmer Spivey III that the rescue was responsible for 200 equines and other animals. Judge Spivey was not alone in questioning why a rescue with so much responsibility would litigate for four animals in trusted and qualified care.  

It was alleged that Rocking R Ranch and Rescue was aware that the horses the organization had farmed out were in decline and failed to intervene. The Madison County Sheriff’s Department has trusted MS Horses in previous cases. Interestingly, Rocking R Horse and Rescue has asked MS Horses to accept imperiled horses for rehabilitation and rehoming.

The organization is based in Madison County. It is common practice in seizure cases under § 97-41-2 Seizure of mistreated animal that seized animals are kept within the court's jurisdiction until the presiding court rules whether they are returned, or entrusted to a non-profit 501-c3 organization for their humane adoption, or sanctuary.

Behind the struggle for the possession of the horses are years of alleged social media character assassinations and fundraisers for the acquisition and care of rescued equines, including horses, ponies, and donkeys from livestock “Sell Barns” that deal with notorious kill-buyers, equines to be transported to Mexico or Canada for inhumane slaughter.

Witnesses are expected to testify as to why it is ill-advised for Rocking R Ranch and Rescue to regain custody of equines; the organization allegedly showed no concern until social media publicized their seizure.

“Spats between non-profit organizations competing for sorely needed funding are common,” said In Defense of Animals Senior Campaigner and decades-long cruelty investigator and rescuer, Doll Stanley. “Even the possession of animals that move caring hearts to donate is played out in social media, but litigation over animals in trusted care is questionable. In Defense of Animals is not known to engage in such controversies, but we stand with organizations we partner with for the welfare and interests of animals, not organizations.”